Consumer&#39;s liquefied petroleum gas storage and utilization equipment



July I4, 1936;.- R w, THOMAS I 2,047,339-

4 GONSUMERS LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS STORAGE AND UTILIZATION EQUIPMENTFiled Oct. 19, 1934 5 sheet-she t 1 Ruswell W'I'huinas ATTORNEYS.

, July 14; 1936.

R. w. THoMAs CONSUMERS LI'QUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS STORAGE AND UTILIZATIONEQUIPMENT Filed Oct. 19, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 EC 1 fl..

25 23 3 :ZINVNTO .27 4 RussweHWTl-mmas BYZ ATTORNEY Jul 14, 1936;

R. w. THOMAS 9 CONQUMER'S LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS STORAGE ANDUTILIZATION EQUIPMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 19, 1934 INVENTOR.

M ATTORNEYS.

July 14, 1936. w, THOMAS 0 2,047,339 CONSUMERS LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS,STORAGE AND UTILIZATION EQUIPMENT Filed Oct. 19, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4FIG: 10.

INVENTORQ Husswgll W'T'humas ATTORNEYS.

July 14, 1936. R w, THO 2,047,339

CONSUMERS LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS STORAGE AND UTILIZATION EQUIPMENTFiled Oct. 19, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 12.

INVENTOR.

Ru sswllWThumas Patented July 14, 1936 CONSUMERS LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GASSTORAGE AND UTlLIZA'l'ION EQ Rossweli W. Thomas, Detroit, Mich"Petroleum Company, Bartlesville, Okla, a corporation of Delaware toPhillipa assignor Application October 19, 1934, Serial No. 749,124

9 Claims- This invention relates to equipment for the storage andutilization of liquefied petroleum gas, and more particularly toequipment well adapted for use by the consumers of propane and similar 5petroleum products used for heating, lighting and cooking purposes inand about the home.

The equipment is also particularly well adapt- 1 ed, altho notnecessarily limited to use where the consumer looks after thetransportation of filled 10 tanks or cylinders of liquefied gas from thestore or service station to his premisesand the return of empty tanks orcylinders as by use of the family automobile as while on other errandsto the neighborhood of the store or service station.

5 With this in view, the equipment is made so that the parts which theconsumer must transport and operate are not heavy and complicated,otherwise the equipment would require the strong person of such amechanical turn of mind as to limit use of-the equipment to a smallproportion of the population in rural communities where it isimpractical for the vendor of liquefied petroleum gas to make deliveriesand have experienced service men to condition the equipment 25 for useeach time a empty. y

In general, one of the principal objects of the invention is to provideconsumer's storage and utilization equipment which is simple and inex-30 pensive to make and install, and safe for domestic purposes where theattendant may be merely the ordinary prudent householder who gives suchattank or cylinder becomes tention to equipment as may reasonably beexpected of a person whose other duties make it '35 quite improbablethat'he will make a close study of all of the details of the equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control unit for tanksor cylinders containing liquefied petroleum gas,

40 ed for connection to the service line, as through a pressure reducingregulator, which control unit includes at least a manually operablevalve for normal control of exit of the vapor to the service line, and aleakage prevention valve, to prevent 45. escape of vapor to theatmosphere when the manually operable valve is open and the unit' isdisconnected from the service line, the unit having means whereby it maybe quickly and conveniently attached to the tank in a fluid tight 50manner.

A further 0 ject is to provide such a control unit including an excessflow check device functioning to prevent rapid exit tank in the eventthat the service line becomes 55 ruptured or a portion of the controlunit becomes attention of a such as propane, adaptof vapor from the 1broken oil or injured at a zone above such excess flow check device.

A still further object is to provide as a part of the control unit aseal which normally closes or seals the egress opening of the devicethereby preventing the entrance of dirt and moisture while the tank isin storage or being transported, and discouraging tampering with partsof the control unit which are for safety purposes. Such seals may be ofthe character ordinarily used on bottles and having a crimpedcircumferential flange which engages in a groove of the main bodyportion of the control unit, or any approved type of cap or seal.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tank orcylinder for liquefied petroleum gas, which may be easily transported,stored and handled with comparative ease and safety, and includingcontrol means at its head, such as a safety valve to permit the escapeof fluid or gas should the internal pressure approach adangerouscondition, a manually operable valve for normal control of exitof fluid or vapor, a leakage prevention valve to check egress of fluidfrom the tank when it is not connected to the service line, and anexcess flow check device functioning to prevent too rapid exit of thefluid should the service line break, all of the control means beingprotected by a simple yet emcient sleeve so shaped and mounted as topermit access to parts of the control means requiring adjustment .andyet guarding the same against injury incident to the transportation anduse of the tank or cylinder, and which sleeve is self-cleaning ordraining so as to prevent the accumulation of dirt, and water about thecontrol means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thefollowing detailed description.

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, and in which drawings:-

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the equipmenathe combinationdoor and lid of the cabinet being removed.

Figure 2 is aview partly in elevation and partly in vertical transversesection through the cabinet of the equipment,-thecabinet disclosed asattached to the wall of a building.

Figure 3,is a perspective view of the cabinet looking toward the top,front and side.

Figure 4 is a similar view looking toward the rear, top and side.

Figure 5 is a view in elevation of the cabinet attached to a wallportion.

its-relationship to and partly in sideelevation of the control unitFigure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the rear wallof the cabinet and a support for a pressure reducing regulator in aposition about to be supported by the cabinet wall.

Figure 8 is a view partly. in elevation and partly in central verticalsection through one of the tanks or cylinders.

Figure 9 is an enlarged developed view of a portion of a protectingsleeve adapted for at tachment to the tank or cylinder.

Figure 10 is a detail view partly in plan and partly in horizontalsection showing the relationship of a control unit and on the upperportion of the tank.

Figure 11 is a view in side elevation of one form of control unit.

Figure 12 is a central through the control unit shown in Figure 11 andthe tank or cylinder and protecting sleeve.

Figure 13 is a modified fonn of control unit.

Figure 14 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical sectionof the form of control.

unit shown in Figure 13, attached to the tank or cylinder.

Figure 15:is a side view of a further modified.

form of control unit.

Figure 16 is a view partly in vertical section shown in Figure 15.

In the drawings, wherein like characters designate like or correspondingparts throughout the views, .A designates a suitable upright to which issecured a cabinet B including a main body C anda combination door or lidD, preferably made vof sheet metal; E a fluid pressure reducing rersecured in the cabinet by means F and having'a service line 6 connectedto the outlet port of the regulator and extending to the consumer's gasutilization equipment, not shown in the drawings; H a tank'or cylinderfor liquelfled petroleum gas-two of whichmay be accommodated in thecabinet 3, in the example shown,

each tank preferably including a base J to rest upon the bottom of thecabinet body, and handles K to facilitate; movement of the tank from oneplace to another; L a control unit for each tank H; including a manuallyoperable valve M for normal control of exit of vapor to the regulatorthe tank or the-control vention valve 0,

of vapor from the tank in the event the prese therein becomes abnormal;Q an excess flow 7 'device which may be'associated with the control unitL: R a union or swivel type base for connection of the control unit L tothe tank H; s acaporsealwhichmavbcassociatedwiththe outlet of theconirolimit, when not connected to the conduit N; w a protecting sleeveabout the control unit L tank 8; and x a pressure relief valve with theregulator E. r r Y Referrlngflrst tothecabinetfi. the body 0 thereofcomprises a bottom II, a rear wall It, and side walls I! and It In theexample shown, the bottom II'is rectangular in plan and of a length toaccommodate two tanks or cylinders H asshowninl lgure 1.Itmayincludeafloorfl;

downw dly extending verticai' flanges 22 and its protecting sleeve, I

vertical sectional view preferably trapezoidal in shape with,-its rearunit L to permit escape.

; ;at its hinges 23 at its rear and front margins, respectively, andsimilarly extending flanges 24 and 25 at its side margins; a rearwardlyextending horizontal flange 2d at the bottom of flange 23; and alongitudinally extending beam 21 secured to the 5 under side of floor2|. This preferred construction provides a' very sturdy cabinet bottom,the front marginal portion of which is strengthened by the flanges 23and 26 and providing no obstruction over which the tank H must be liftedin order to settle same upon the floor 2!. The beam 21 may be a rolledU-section having outwardly extending horizontal flanges 2? at its upperportion, preferably welded or otherwise secured to the floor RI. Therear wall I 8 includes a forwardly extending horizontal flange 29 at itslower margin upon which the flange 22 may rest; a forwardly extendingflange 30 at its upper margin; and, a, downwardly extending flange 3!along the forward margin of 20 flange 30. The rear wall l8.'ispreferably provided with two or more series 32 of spaced apartperforations 33, each series of perforations extending in a general lineparallel to the longitudinal axis of the cabinet adjacent the end 25walls. In the example shown, four such series 32 of perforations 33 areprovided, two being adjacent the upper margin or rear wall I8 and twoadjacent the lower margin thereof. The

perforations 33 of each series are spaced apart 30 a suitable distancein order a lag screw 34 may have its shank 35 extended through theselected perforation and into the support A which may include a numberof upright studs 36. The

spacing of studs in various buildings or types of 8 buildings varies, sothat by pounding upon the wall surface the location of the studs may bedetermined and the lag screws passed through the selected perforations33 according to the spacing of the studs. This enables the cabinet B tobe securely attached to an upright, such as a wall portion or posts. Fora purpose to be subsequently set forth, the rear wall is also providedwith a perforation 31 located approximately'at its center, as shown inFigure 4 and spaced pockets 38 shown more particularly in Figure -7.These pockets are preferably formed by having horizontally spaced slitscut in the sheet material and extending diagonally, downwardly towardeach other, the sheet metal being pressed inwardly as at 39 to the lowerside of each slit to produce the pockets which have openings 40 at theirtops. 'The sidewalls l9 and 20 are each vertical margin I joined to therear wall l8 as i by being integral therewith and its horizontal lowermargin 42 provided with a horizontal flange 43. The top margin 44 ofeach side wall slopes downwardly and forwardly from the rear margin andthe front margin 45 is in obtuse an- 00 gular relation to margin 44 andextends to the lower margin 42. I The margins 44 and 45 are shown moreparticularly in Figure 2. The flanges of walls l8 and 20 project towardeach other and upon them may rest the flanges 65 '2l and-2! of bottom IIas shown in Figures 2 and 6. Beam-21 of the bottom l'l may also restupon flanges 43 and it is preferred to spot weld. as at 46, the flanges24 and 25 to the sidewalls is and 20, respectively. y

The combination door and lid D comprises a top wall ,I'La front wall 48,and side walls 49 :and 50. The top wall 41 'is hinged'iy connected,rearlmargin 5| to the flange 30, as by I2; and when the combination doorand aosasa'o 'rests'upon the top margins 44 of the side walls l9 and ina manner obvious from an inspection of Figure 2. The top wall 41 is alsopreferably provided with a trough-like flange it which extends beneaththe downwardly extending flange ll of rear wall l8 when the combinationdoor and lid is in a closed position. Thus, any'water entering betweenthe upper margin 5| of top wall 41, and flange will be caught in thetrough and will flow toward one or both walls l9 and 20 of the cabinetbody 18. The front wall 48' may be provided with upper andlower ventlouvers 54 and 55 as shown in Figures 2 and 3, so as to permit acirculation of air in the cabinet. The side walls 49 and 50arepreferably each of obtuseangled triangular shapewith the obtuse angle58 at the upper front portion of the combination door and lid, wherebythe top wall 41 slopes eluding an operating handle 6 downwardly andforwardly in-order that most of v the rain water, melting snow and ice,and products ofcondensation will flow oif the top wall 41. Thisconstruction of combination door and lid is very sturdy, yetcomparatively light in weight, and is not likely to be damaged by windforces, even when in an open position, indicated by dotted lines in-Figure 2 because the obtuseangled triangular side walls brace the topand front walls 41 yd 48. It is to be noted that the side walls 49 and50 overlap the outer faces of side walls l9 and thus furtherstrengthening the cabinet, especially when the combination door and lidD is in a closed position and snow or ice is likely to accumulate on thetop wall '41 thereof. If desired, the side walls l9 and 20 may beprovided with perforations 51. through either of which the service line-G"may extend, if it is not desired to bring same out of the cabinetthrough the floor M. In the example shown, the front wall 48 is providedwith a handle 58 to facilitate raising and lowering of same. A padlock59, associated with' a loop 60, rigid with front wall 48, and a pivotedhasp 8| secured to horizontal flange 26 may be provided to lock thecabinet in a closed position, in order to discourage tampering with theparts. A suitable pivoted brace 62 may be operatively connected to thewalls 20 and 50, at the inner sides thereof, so as to hold thecombination door and lid D in an open position, when such is desired,asshown in Figure 2 by means of dotted lines.

The pressure reducing regulator may be of the manifold control type,such as is shown in patent to Wolfe, 1,844,814, granted February 9,1932, mnd inlet couplings '64, the operating handl H permitting the,consumer to draw. upon either one of the tanks H to the exclusion of theother. Or,-this regulator :may be of any suitable type, either manuallyor automatically operated. An example of an automatically operatedregulator is shown in my co-pending application filed September 13,1934, Serial Number 743,916, relating to dispensing equipment forliquefied petroleum gas. Theinlet couplings 64 are connected to theconduits N in the usual way. In the example shown, the regulator'E issupported in and by the cabinet by means F, preferably comprising asupport 65, secured to-the back of the regulator, in any suitablemanner, such as by screws, not shown in the drawings, the shanks ofwhich may be accommodated in perforations 66; and a screw 81, the shankof which passes through an opening 68 in the support 65,- and into theperforation 31 of rear' wall II. The support 65 is such rolling action.when it is desired to lift secured to the cylinder H by a union orswivel preferably of T-shape including a vertical stem portion 6! and across bar III, the ends of the latter being received inpockets 3! whenthe support-is in place. By this construction, ordinary pressureregulators may be attached to the sup- 5 'port. which in turn may beproperly located in the cabinet, as by placing the end portions of crossbar II in the pockets and passing the shank of screw 01 through opening"and into perforation 31. A self-threading screw may be -used 10 for thispurpose. This is an inexpensive support and avoids the necessity ofextreme care when placing the regulatorsince if the cabinet is primarilylocated in a correct position on its support, so that the upper marginof the rear wall it is horizontal, and the cabinet bottom in a plane ata right angle to support A, the regulator E will be correctly positionedfor efllcient operation.

Each tank or cylinder H preferably comprises 20 a cylindrical bodyportion 'll provided with concavo-convex bottom 12 which bulgesdownwardly, and a similarly shaped top I8 which bulges upwardly; and thebase J and handles K hereinbefore referred to. The i base J ispreferably 25 annular in shape. provided with notches or open lugs 14 topermit warm air to circulate about and contact said downwardly bulgingbottom 12 when the base is resting upon a floor such as it; and,

an inwardly rolled flange 15 at its lower margin 30 serving as a handgrip section. By way of example, this base may be formed from a ring ofsheet metal, provided with thenotches 14 open to its upper margin, thebase being secured to the bottom 12 of the tank, as by welding indicatedat 35 I6. It is preferred to locate the handles K on the top"inwardly'of the circumferential plane of cylindrical body portions 1 I,whereby the tank or cylinder may be rolled over the ground withoutthehandles K, or the base J interfering with or carry the cylinder,apierson may grasp one handle and the base J, or both handles,whichevermay be most convenient.

The preferred type of control unit is shown :45 morev in detail inFigures 11 and 12. It contemplates the provision of a fusible plugdevice 11 carried by the cylinder H preferably adjacent the crownportion of head II 'so that it may be in the zone protected by sleeve W.This form of con- 50 trol unit may differ from those shown in Figures'13-16 .in that it includes an excess flow check device Q. Morespecifically, the control unit comprises a body 18 which may bedetachably 81 for slug 84 to rest upon. The body I8 has a hollowcylindrical depending stem 88, in which a chamber 8| is located, and alaterally extending coupling projection 89 in which valve-chamber 83 islocated. The chamber at has a downwardly facing seat 80 which the slug,0: may engage when carried along with rapidly moving fluid in thechamber iii, the seating of the slug being imperfeet to permit aslowleakage through the passageway in order toper'mit the slug todrop,due 7 to the force of gravity, or otherwise, when the pressure in thetank, and the passageway through the control device is substantiallyequalized. As

a typical example, the slug may be made from a piece of inch squarebrass stock, approximately 1% inches long, to move in a :gu having adiameter of substantially inch to give easy iit and to permit readyreciprocation of the slug. The upper end of the slug need not be in aplane at a right angle to the axis of the slug, but may be slantedslightly so that there will be an average leak of about 2 cubic feet perhour at 150 pounds pressure of liquefied petroleum gas in the cylinderH. Normally the slug rests upon the stop 81, as shown in Figure 12,however, in th event the body it of the control unit breaks at the upperportion of stem 88, the slug will be carried forward by the outrushingvapor or fluid, and but very little will escape because of the highpressure within the cylinder as compared with atmospheric pressure.Likewise, if the conduit N becomes ruptured or some of the mechanismforming a part of the apparatus becomes damaged so that the vapor orother fluid in the cylinder would ordinarily find rapid egress, the slug8%,

. 88, having a polygonal head 94 for receiving a wrench, wheel, or otherdevice, not shown in the drawings, whereby the stem 83-may be rotated.The mechanism 92 is preferably altho not necessarily of the type freefrom packing, springs and other similar parts which sometimes becomeunreliable and inemcient in use. An approved type of -mechanism is shownin patent to Bastian, 1,662,291, March 13, 1928, relating to valves, sothat a detailed description of mechanism 82 is unnecessary, since itsparticular construction forms no part of the present invention. Valvechamber 83 is provided in the coupling projection 89 of body 78 and hasan inwardly facing seat 85 for valve proper 86, which latter is normallyurged to a seating position by a spring 96 but may be unseated by anelement acting upon fingers 91- movable with valve proper 86. Thedetails of construction of this leakage prevention valve form no part ofthe present invention and are described fully in patent to Endacott,1,977,268, October 16, 1934, relating to Dispensing equipment forcompressed gas and wherein is shown an arrangement whereby a couplingsuch as that here shown at 88 on conduit N, having screw threadedengagement with threads 98 in outlet port 88 may open a valve such asthis leakage prevention valve when the coupling 88 is turned tight. Itmay, however, be pointed out in the forms of control units hereindisclosed, the manually operable valve stem 88 normally points upwardly,and port 80 opens laterally so that even if the cap or seal S beomitted, foreign matter is not likely to accumulate in port 88 andinterfere with operation of the leakage prevention valve 0. This is incontradistinction to what is shown in the aforesaid patent, 1,977,268,where the outlet port opens upwardly.

The forms of control units shown in Figures 13-16 differ mainly from theform shown in Figures 11 and 12, in that the stem 88 of the former isnot provided with a chamber like that shown at 8| in Figures 11 and 12since the safety device P is, in the form shown in Figures 13-16,carried. by the control unit L. Referring more particularly to the formshown in Figures'13-14, the safety device P is in the form of a fuseplug I88, which melts at approximately 165 F. It may be held in place bysolidifying in ascrew threaded bore Iflt extending radially through stem88. If desired, a screen I82 may be provided adjacent the lower end ofinlet port I9, to prevent foreign matter entering the chamber ofmanually operable valve M. It is of course understood that a frangibledisc may be used in place of the fuse plug if desired.

The modification shown in Figures 15 and 16 provides an enlargement I08vlaterally of the iuncture between stem 88 and the main body 18,containing a valve chamber I 84, having an outwardly facing valve seatI88, for valve proper K66, which is normally urged to a seated positionby spring 87. A port 08 leads from the inlet port 19 to the valvechamber I88. Thus a high pressure, spring loaded relief or safety devicemay be provided, directly carried by the control unit L avoiding thenecessity of a safety device, such as that shown at 1'1, carrieddirectly by the tank head 78.

The union or swivel base R includes an outlet sleeve I08 havingrelatively thick walls as compared with the cylinder walls, preferablydisposed with its major portion I I8 inside the tank and its minorportion I i l exteriorly of the tank where it may be welded as at II2,to the tank head 73, preferably to one side of the vertical axis of thetank. The sleeve I 88 has a vent or passageway H3 therethrough in whichis an outwardly facing valve seat Ill and screw threads H leading fromits upper end. The base R also includes a sleeve nut II 6 encirclingstem 88 and a ring II! of deformable material, such as copper, carriedby stem 88 and shaped to contact seat H4. Nut l i6 has a wrench head H8,screw threads H9 for engagement with the threads I1 5, and an abutmentface I28 for engagement with the top of ring Hi. This ring is preferablyaccommodated in a circumferential groove I2I having a seating surfaceI22 tapering inwardly from the outer surface of the stem toward theinner end of the stem and terminating in an annular shoulder #123. Afterthe sleeve nut 6 has been placed on stem 88, the ring II'I may becrimped to extend into groove I 2| thereby preventing ready detachmentof the nut II 5 from the stem, yet permitting the ring to be forced intointimate contact with the seats I and I22 and the shoulder I23, byturning the nut tight in outlet sleeve I09. By reference to Figure 12,.it will be observed that the excess flow check valve Q is in the zonesurrounded by the outlet sleeve I 88. By making this sleeve of materialwith a. relatively thick wall the valve Q is in a protected position,and the control unit L is not likely to break off at a point which willinjure the excess flow check valve, if the control unit be subjected toan unusual force, tending to break the stem 88.

In order that the extension 88 may accommodate the cap or seal S of acharacter having a crimped flange I 24, it is provided with acircumferential groove I25 and a seating surface I26, such as may befound on an ordinary beverage bottle, whereby a portion of the crimpedflange I28 may be forced into groove I28 111 the well known manner. maybe provided'a packing disc I21 which engages the seat I26. This caporseal may be made of material sufficiently strong to resist passage offluid from the cylinder H through outlet port 88 at, or even greaterthan the pressure which normally prevails in the cylinder, so that itassists the leakage prevention valve 0 in pre- Inside the cap or seal 8*venting loss of gas or vapor while the cylinder is or cap may be ofmaterial of such gauge that it will not resist such a high pressure, butwill be blown from the extension 189 if there is leakage past thevarious valves of the control unit. A

cap or seal of the character described may be readily removed by use ofa tool, such as an ordinary bottle opener, or may be constructed so asto require a special tool for its removal.

As to protecting sleeve W, it is preferably made. with an invertedV-shaped notch or hole I28 open at its bottom margin I29 and with thenotch or hole rounded as at I30 to conform somewhat to the shape of theupper portion of cap 8 or ex-' tension 89, The sleeve may be welded asat I3I to the head I3 co-axial therewith. The notch or hole I28 is madewide enough at its base I32, to permit the entrance and swinging of awrench I33, shown in Figure 10. for engagement with head II8-to operatesleeve nut Iii. This notch or hole I28 also permits water and otherforeign matter finding its way into the sleeve, to flow or movetherefrom. While the notch or hole is made large enough to accommodate atool, not shown in the drawings, for removal-of the cap or seal S, suchdoes not weaken the-protecting sleeve since thegreater portion of itslower margin maybe welded to the cylinder L. The sleeve is of courseopen at it's top. so that access may be had to the operating stem 83 ofvalve M and for inspection of parts of the control unit. By mounting thecontrol unit L with its supporting stem 88 to one side of the axis ofprotecting sleeve W, as shown more particularly'by reference toFigure.10, the control unit cannot be rotated about its axis since theextension 89 will contact the interior wallof the protectingsleeve-after slight circumferential movement of the control unit aboutits vertical axis. This avoids likelihood of an inquisitive persondamaging the ring I" by twisting of the control unit about its mounting.4

The pressure relief valve x forms no important part, of the invention.It is connected to the regulator E in any suitable manner, such as bypipe I34, as illustrated in Figure 1. There also is shown a wrench Iwhich may be used to operate couplings 98, and to actuate valve stem 93.This wrench may be secured to some part of the apparatus, such as thepipe Ill, by a chain I36.

As to operation of the equipment in practice it has been found best toprovide two tanks or cylinders H, one of which is drawn upon forsupplying gas to the service line G, while the other is held in reserve.This may be accomplished by use of a manifold regulator including anoperating handle 63 whereby valve mechanism in the regulator is operatedto open communication between the regulator and one of the conduits Nwhile closing oil. communication between the regulator and the otherconduit N. A very satisfactory arrangement is to use an automaticchangeover device of the character disclosed in the aforesaidapplication, Serial Number 743,916.

Initially, in the example shown 1 two filled tanks or cylinders will beplaced in the cabinet and connected to the pressure reducing regulatorand the mechanism of the regulator set to draw upon one of thecylinders. When the supply in that particular cylinder is exhausted, theattendant, in the example shown, may change over to the reserve cylinderby operation of handle 83, and detach the empty cylinder from theequipment so as to be in readiness to transport cylindrical stemextending into said vent, the

or service station is located, Usually such trips are made with more orless regularity and. there will be, in most instances, a sufficientsupplyof 5 liquefied petroleum gas in the active cylinder to meetrequirements long after the empty cylinder has been replaced. If theequipment is provided with a control unit L such as shown in Figures 11and 12 and 10 the regulator E should fail to function, the conduit Nbecomes ruptured or the major portion of the control unit be broken off,the excess flow check device Q will operate to prevent rapid exit ofvapor from the cylinder.

'I'he cabinet B is so made as to not occupy much space, all'pa'rts ofthe equipment being compactly arranged as may be observed by referenceto Figures 1 and 2. The combination door and lid D excludes water, snowand ice, 20 when closed, yet when opened, permits operation of thehandle 63 associated with the regulator E and little effort is requiredto placeor remove one or' both of me cylinders H since there is noobstructidn over which same must be lifted relative 2 to the floor 2|.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a tank for liquefied petrole-- um gas under highpressure, provided with anoutlet vent having screw threads leading fromits 8 outer end and an outwardly facing seat inwardly -of the screwthreads,a control unit comprising a body provided with a reduced hollowcylindrical stem extending into said vent, the stem 7 provided with acircumferential groove with a 35 seating surface tapering inwardly fromits outer surfacefitoward the inner'end of the stem--and terminating atsin outwardly facing annular shoulder, a ring of deformable materialcrimped to extend into said groove and contacting the seating surfaceand shoulder of the steam, and a sleeve nut surrounding and free on saidstem between said control unit body and ring, in screw threadedengagement with the threads of said vent opening and contacting saidring to force the ring into intimate contact with the seat of the ventopening, and the seating surface and shoulder of said stem.

'2. In combination, a tank for liquefied petroleum gas under highpressure, provided with an outlet vent having screw threads leading fromits outer end and an outwardly facing seat inwardly of said screwthreads, a control unit comprising a body provided with a reduced hollowstem provided with a circumferential groove, a

ring of deformable material crimped to extend into said groove, and asleeve nut surrounding and free on said stem between said controlunit'body and ring, in screw threaded engagement with threads of saidvent opening and contacting said ring to force the ring into intimatecontact with the seat'of the vent opening.

, 3. In combination, a tank for liquefied petroleum gas under highpressure, provided with an outlet sleeve having relatively thick wallsrigidly securedto the tank walls, with the major portion of thesleeve-inside the tank,,,a control unit provided with a hollowcylindrical stem extending into said major portion of the sleeve andde-' tachably secured to said sleeve, and an excess fiow check device insaidstem in the zone thereof surrounded by said outlet sleeve.

4. ;In combination, a tank for liquefied petroleum' gas under highpressure, including an outlet sleeve, a unit for control of egress offluid from the tank, including a hollow stem extending into said sleeve,a coupling including a sleeve nut-surrounding said stem and in screwthreaded engagement with said sleeve for detachably securing said unitto the tank, and an excess flow check device carried by said controlunit in the zone thereof surrounded by said sleeve and sleeve nut.

5, In customers equipment for the storage and utilization of liquefiedpetroleum gas, the combination of a tank, a control unit for exitof'fluid from the tank comprising a body portion provided with an outletport, an inlet port in communication with the tank chamber, and aplurality of valve chambers between and in communication with saidports, an automatically operated leakage prevention valve in the valvechamber nearest the outlet port, an automatically operable excess flowcheck device in the valve chamber nearest the inlet port, and a manuallyoperable valve in the valve chamber intermediate said leakage preventionvalve and excess flow check device.

6. In customers equipment for the storage and utilization of liquefiedpetroleum gas, the combination of a tank, a control unit for exit offluid from the tank comprising a body portion. provided with an outletport, an inlet port in communication with the tank chamber, and aplurality of valve chambers between and in communication with saidports, an automatically operable leakage prevention valve in the valvechamber nearest the outlet port, a manually operable valve in the valvechamber nearest the inlet port, and a high pressure relief deviceoperatively connected to said body portion and com- ,municating with theinlet port to permit escape of fluid under high pressure from said inletport when the pressure in the tank becomes abnormal.

7. In customers equipment for the storage and Y utilization of liquefiedpetroleum gas, the comaoamece bination 01' a tank, a control unit forexit of fluid from the tank comprising a body portion provided with anoutlet port, and inlet port in communication with the tank chamber, avalve chamber intermediate said ports and an annular flange about saidoutlet port, a valve in said valve chamits other and open, said sleeveprovided with a wrench receiving opening in its side wall, a unit iorcontrol of exit of fluid from the tank located in the zone surrounded bysaid sleeve and operable through the open end of the sleeve, and a unioncoupling detachabiy coupling said unit to the tank including a wrenchreceiving part in a plane common to said wrench receiving opening.

9. In combination with a tank for fluid under pressure, a sleeve havingone end secured to the tank at the exterior wall thereof with the axisof the sleeve normal to the tank wall and its other end open, saidsleeve provided with a wrench receiving opening in its sidewall, a unitfor control of exit of fluid from the tank located in the zonesurrounded by said sleeve, and comprising a body portion, a laterallyprojecting coupling extension and a handle operable through the open endof said sleeve, and a union coupling detachably connecting said bodyportion of the control unit to the tank in the zone surrounded by saidsleeve, near the wall of the sleeve opposite to said wrench receivingopening and with the said coupling extension pointing toward saidopening, said union coupling including a wrench receiving part in aplane common to said wrench receiving opening.

ROSSWELL W. THOMAS.

